Nature-based health programs on the UF Campus
The University of Florida is a large land grant university with many colleges: Law, Agriculture and Life Sciences, 6 colleges in the Health Science Center, Architecture, Arts, Liberal Arts and Sciences, a large campus with significant natural areas on campus and some distance from campus, a number of natural resource based programs such as forestry, natural resources, Museums of Art and Natural History. It therefore has numerous resources and programs to address student, faculty, and staff wellness, and more are always being developed.
Health Science Center Library
Wellness Team
The HSCL Wellness Team has a number of activities promoting healing in nature and the study of nature-based therapies. These include nature walks in nearby nature areas, virtual nature walks on the UF campus, therapy dog visits, plant give aways, Gainesville nature prescription calendars, and creation of seasonal nature walk guides: (https://guides.uflib.ufl.edu/c.php?g=816039&p=6152275 )
Wilmot Gardens https://wilmotgardens.med.ufl.edu/
Craig Tisher, MD
Leah Diehl
The Wilmot Gardens was created in 1950 in memory of Royal James Wilmot and housed rare camellias donated in honor of Mr. Wilmot. After years of garden neglect, and inspired by the Dr. C. Craig Tisher began a continuing process of revitalization and transformation starting in 2006. Since that time the gardens have flourished as a botanical garden and as a growing locus of horticultural therapy programing at the University of Florida. Working with the gardens and in the greenhouse, the programs reach numerous patients a week, working with varied groups including veterans, students, children on the autism spectrum, cancer patients. Outreach and training opportunities include coursework, volunteer opportunities, internships and other programs with the possibility for focus on different Wilmot programs including work in and running of botanical gardens as well as therapeutic horticulture programs.
Farm and Fork- Dina Liebowitz- Food Systems Institute- https://foodsystems.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty/dina-liebowitz/ - dinalieb@ufl.edu
The Field & Fork Campus Food Program provides opportunities to cultivate both vegetables and community! Volunteer on the farm to help grow food for people experiencing food insecurity, and along the way connect with a wonderful community, learn about sustainable agriculture, and enjoy some gorgeous outdoor activity to nourish yourself and others. Go to www.fieldandfork.ufl.edu to sign up to volunteer and learn about more opportunities.
Office of Sustainability
Jacob Adams, Campus Bicycle Program Coordinator- (Campus Bike Month) - https://sustainable.ufl.edu/about/meet-the-team/staff/ - jacobadams@ufl.edu
UF/IFAS Extension
Extension services provided through UF’s (and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s) land grant mission include a number of gardening, agriculture, and horticulture services.
“Extension is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. The University of Florida (UF), together with Florida A&M University (FAMU), administers the Florida Cooperative Extension Service.
At the University of Florida, Extension is located in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), along with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and is called UF/IFAS Extension.”
https://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/about-us/#d.en.596782
IFAS Blogs and Educational Materials
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/orangeco/2023/05/02/prioritize-your-mental-health-part-1/
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR394
Housing
Living Learning Initiatives/Communities- https://housing.ufl.edu/living-learning-communities/
Recsports
https://recsports.ufl.edu/ “RecSports has A LOT of programming and places for nature-based wellness. Scroll over “Outdoor Recreation” on our website and you’ll see all of the options. From access to Lake Wauburg to a custom trip we offer tremendous amounts of opportunity for the UF community to enjoy nature nearby or reduce barriers to access by providing guides and transportation.”
Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education- https://recsports.ufl.edu/locations/center-for-outdoor-recreation-and-education-core/ - CORE offers outdoor skills workshops, adventure trips, gear rental, leadership training opportunities, a challenge course, as well as grants
Lake Wauburg- runs activities and facilities at UF’s Lake Wauburg, some 10 miles from the main campus https://recsports.ufl.edu/locations/lake-wauburg/
Mindfulness
UF Mindfulness includes nature-based healing activities in their workshop series- https://www.ufmindfulness.org/workshops
Healthy Gators Coalition
Program brings together groups at the University that champion wellness. https://healthygators.ufl.edu/
Individual Faculty initiatives
Nina Stoyan-Rosenzweig Health Science Center Library Teaches nature prescribing in the UF College of Medicine; has developed nature walks focused on well being and developing observational skills in fourth year medical students through the 4th year elective HEART-IM, run by AMSA; does nature walks for the HSCL, Mindfulness, and other Wellness groups at UF; runs virtual and in person nature wellness workshops, teaches undergraduate courses on nature-based therapies. https://guides.uflib.ufl.edu/Health_humanities/UFNatureTherapy
Tara Sabo-Atwood College of Public Health and Health Professions Worked with local parks to create a local Track Trails initiative https://www.kidsinparks.com/blog/3-new-track-trails-sunshine-state
Alice Rhoton-Vlasak, MD – horticultural therapy, obgyn patients
Paulette Hahn, MD – provides nature prescriptions for patients
Irene Estores, MD -
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